The Indianapolis journal., 1887-05-15
THE BAD, BAD BERNHARDT.
She Shocks the Nodesty of Omaha People by
Dressing Open Window.

She Shocks the Modesty of Omaha People by
Dressing at an Open Window.
Omaha World.
Sarah Bernhardts house at Frou Frou Satur-
day evening was light and had she appeared a
night later her audience would have been much
smaller because people of refined sensibiIites
would have been shocked at what they might
have heard of her conduct and those of lower in
stincts could have said that they had seen all of
Bernhardt they cared to- The reprehensible act
consisted in feat like that of Lady Godiva, who
rode through the streets of city without any
apparel to conceal her form. Lady Godiva had
excuse for her abuse of public modesty but
Bernhardt had none.
In preparing for "Camille" Saturday after
noon, the noted French actress deliberately
raised the window and curtain of her dressing
room and arranged her toilet before the gaze of
at least one hundred men. The dressing room
is in the second story of the Opera-house and
the window opens TO the left of Fifteenth street.
1t Itrequred fully hour for the divine creature to
put the toegery of the noted character she
was to REPRESENT, and in all that time the rays
of the sun shown clearly into the room making
remote objects plainly visible while the coming
image of Camille appeared 'three time
winner in various stages of developement
The heat was oppressive and an ablution of
the divinely tall and spirituelle frame work of
Bernhardt essential to comfort. The Geor-
gia colonel who is content with apparel amount
ing only to a paper collar and spur would
have been shocked at the abandon of Sarah who
sill In this connection it may be said that the
window sill is about three feet high. In one
place il was added to by the hat of Bernhardt's
maid bearing a large white and large dove
coored feather.
After the ablution whatever may have in
spired the impersonation of the nude in art
Bernhardt appeared at her mirror beside the
window and in plain view of the crowd below
where she devoted long time-iC was one of
those occasions when moments seem like hours
to powderinR, pencilinc and frizzing Her
artistic excellence led her forget herself in the
character she represented and in dressing the
model TO idealize Camille" she became oblivious
of gaze. Each effort was bolder than the other
until finally the most realistic works of art had
been outdone.
For a few moments Bernhardt retired to
corner evidently where she had deposited her
apparel-and when she reappeared she was par
TALLY attired in airy garment which
decolette the raiment of pugilist in the ring.
She primped and powdered more and again re-
tired. When she next appeared she wore lace
chemise of decoette texture. In it she poised
long at thelwndow, retiring finally when the
heavier articles of dress were to be donned.
The Opera-house people were not TO blame for
the scandalous conduct of the actress Her
room had curtains but she raised them. and it
had other accessories so arranged that no actress
has ever found it necessary TO make similar
display in attaining the dress of any role But
Bernhardt was mad all the time she here,
and constantly tried 10 show herself off.
About all that can be said of her conduct is tha
she succeeded in what she had undertaken. bu
the result was disgusting rather than triumph